Packaging structure

ABSTRACT

Subject disclosure relates to novel and improved apparatus for handling, shipping and storing elongated flat rectangular modular sections of an aircraft landing mat. The improved apparatus includes a pair of frame members that fit over opposite ends of a stacked bundle of aircraft mat sections and a plurality of highcarbon steel straps that extend between the opposed frame members and maintain the frame members in place on the ends of the bundle. The frame members include unique integral receptacles for skids for the stacked mat sections.

United States Patent [72] Inventor PaulBlackman 7252 Buford St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19149 [21] Appl. No. 856,412 [22] Filed Sept. 9, 1969 Patented Nov. 2, 1971 [54] PACKAGING STRUCTURE 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 206/ R, 206/60 A, 206/ B, 229/23 C [51] Int. Cl B65d /46 [50] Field of Search /369 U; 206/60 A, 62, 65 R, 65 B, 46; 214/105; 217/36; 244/1 14; 229/33 R, 23 B, 23 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 625,730 5/1899 Caldwell 206/60 1,910,783 5/1933 Way 206/60 2,262,730 11/1941 Way 206/60 2,874,834 2/1959 Woodward 206/65 B 3,214,015 10/1965 Budd 206/65 B 3,272,329 9/1966 Meha10v..... 206/65 B 3,456,910 7/1969 Cody et al... 244/114 2,887,241 5/1959 MacKenzie. 229/23 C 3,014,413 12/1961 McKinley 229/23 C Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman Altorneys- E. J. Brower and A. W. Collins ABSTRACT: Subject disclosure relates to novel and improved apparatus for handling, shipping and storing elongated flat rectangular modular sections of an aircraft landing mat. The improved apparatus includes a pair of frame members that fit over opposite ends of a stacked bundle of aircraft mat sections and a plurality of high-carbon steel straps that extend between the opposed frame members and maintain the frame members in place on the ends of the bundle. The frame members inelude unique integral receptacles for skids for the stacked mat sections.

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ATTORNEY PACKAGING STRUCTURE The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

Various types of pallets and containers are often used in the art of handling, shipping and storing stacked goods and materials. Ordinary pallets, however, fail to provide the lateral support of the goods that is often desired. Containers provide lateral as well as horizontal support but are relatively costly to produce and are often unnecessarily heavy and cumbersome. Stacking frame assemblies of various types have therefore been devised in the past for use where lateral support of the load as well as minimum overall weight of the assembly is desired. Considerable difficulty has been experienced heretofore, however, in devising stacking frame assemblies which meet the various requirements of safety, durability and economy in a practical and effective manner.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide novel and improved apparatus for handling, shipping and storing stacked goods and materials.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel and improved stacking frame assembly for a plurality of elongated rectangular modular sections of an aircraft landing mat.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel and improved stacking assembly which includes a pair of singlepiece end frame members that are manufactured from a single stamped sheet metal form.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel and improved stacking assembly which includes a pair of singlepiece end frame members with integral receptacles for skids for the stacked goods and materials.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of one side of the invention shown in FIG. 1, one end of which is shown in cross section;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view in cross section of one end of the invention shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a preformed frame member of the invention shown in FIG. l.

Referring now to the various figures of the drawing, it will be noted that the materials, which are to be stored and/or handled in accordance with the present invention, preferably include a plurality of elongated flat rectangular sections 3 of a modular aircraft landing mat which are stacked one on top of the other and an additional landing mat section 5 positioned on each side of the stacked sections 3. The high-carbon steel girth bands 7 which encircle the mat sections 3 and 5 help maintain the mats in a compact rectangular prismatic bundle 9. Frame members 11 fit over opposite ends of the bundle 9 and are maintained in place by the high-carbon steel straps 13 that diagonally extend across the sides of the bundle 9 between rings 15 welded to the corners of frame members 11. Bands 7 and straps 13 are tensioned and mechanically crimped in their bundle-engaging position in any suitable conventional manner. Hoisting eyes 17 are also welded or otherwise suitably secured to the frame members 11 to facilitate bundle-handling operations.

Frame members 11 of the assembly are fabricated from a stamped metal sheet 19 which is bent inwardly along its edges to form a large rectangular receptacle that is dimensioned and contoured so as to fit over the ends of the bundle 9. Portions 21 of the metal sheet 19, which overlap at the corners of the frame members 11 are preferably spot welded to adjacent bent edge portions of the sheet to maintain the rectangular configuration of the frame members in use. The interior portion of the metal sheet 19 of each frame member is cut away as at 23 to minimize the overall weight of the assembly. The

plywood insert 25 is preferably positioned in the bottom of each frame member 11 to protect ends of the mat sections 3 exposed by the frame member cutout. portion 23. The elongated rectangular tab portion 26 of each metal sheet 19 is bent inwardly again to form the channellike receptacle 27 in the bottom edge of each frame member 111. Wooden skids 29 are positioned in the receptacles 27 and as will be more apparent hereinafter provide support for the mat sections 3 and 5 of the bundle 9. Wooden inserts 31 are positioned between the upper surface of the stack of mat sections 3 and the lower surface of the top edge of each frame member 11. Elongated rectangular locking bars used in the assembly of the mat sections into the aircraft landing mat may be bundled and stowed in the channellike receptacles 27 as at 3'0.

In operation, the mat sections 3 are preferably preliminarily stacked on suitable temporary lumber skids not shown in the drawing. The mat sections 5 are then positioned on each side of the stacked mat sections 3 and the girth bands 7 are tensioned and secured around the bundle. The plywood inserts 25 are then placed in frame members 11. The wooden skids 29 are then positioned in the channeled bottom edge of each frame member 11 and the frame members are fit over opposite ends of the bundle 9. The carbon steel straps 13 are then stretched under tension between diagonally opposed rings 15 on the frame members 11 and secured in their tensioned condition by a conventional crimping operation. The wooden inserts 31 are then positioned between the top of the stacked mat sections 3 and the top edge of the frame members 11 to prevent vertical movement of the sections 3 and 5 in the bundle. Lines are then secured to the hoisting eyes 17 in any suitable manner for any desired handling operation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the: above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination comprising:

a. a plurality of elongated flat sections of a modular aircraft landing mat stacked one on top of another;

b. an additional mat section positioned on each side of the stacked sections so as to protect the side edges of the stacked sections;

c. a plurality of straps which extend about the periphery of the stacked and additional mat sections and secure them in a compact bundle;

d. a pair of cap members which fit over opposite ends of the bundle, the lower edge of each cap member being bent upwardly to form a channellike receptacle therealong, and the interior area of each cap member being cut away to reduce its weight;

e. a lightweight insert positioned in each cap member to enclosethe cut away portion thereof;

f. an elongated prismatic element which is positioned in each channellike receptacle and which supports the bundle;

g. an elongated insert positioned between the upper surface of the stacked mat sections and adjacent surface of each cap member;

h. and a plurality of straps which extend between the cap members and secure the cap members in position over the ends of the bundle. 

1. The combination comprising: a. a plurality of elongated flat sections of a modular aircraft landing mat stacked one on top of another; b. an additional mat section positioned on each side of the stacked sections so as to protect the side edges of the stacked sections; c. a plurality of straps which extend about the periphery of the stacked and additional mat sections and secure them in a compact bundle; d. a pair of cap members which fit over opposite ends of the bundle, the lower edge of each Cap member being bent upwardly to form a channellike receptacle therealong, and the interior area of each cap member being cut away to reduce its weight; e. a lightweight insert positioned in each cap member to enclose the cut away portion thereof; f. an elongated prismatic element which is positioned in each channellike receptacle and which supports the bundle; g. an elongated insert positioned between the upper surface of the stacked mat sections and adjacent surface of each cap member; h. and a plurality of straps which extend between the cap members and secure the cap members in position over the ends of the bundle. 